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Guidelines for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the Archdiocese of New York

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Guidelines for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the Archdiocese of New York Guidelines For the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults In the Archdiocese of New York Revised July 2019 The Catechumenate Guidelines Committee Archdiocese of New York 2008 - 2014 Editor Ms. Rita Ferrone Consultants Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi, Pastor, Holy Family, New Rochelle Sharron Charlton, RCIA Coordinator, Our Lady of Peace, Manhattan Fr. Bartholomew Daly, MHM, Pastor, Our Lady of Peace, Manhattan Jesus De la Rosa, RCIA Director, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx Sr. Philomena Fleck, OSB, RCIA Director, St. Joseph, New Paltz Sue Gallagher, RCIA Network Chairperson, Ossining, NY Jean Gallo, RCIA Coordinator, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Poughkeepsie Msgr. Richard J. Guastella, Pastor, St. Clare, Staten Island Fr. John J. Higgins, Pastor, Assumption, Peekskill Roberta Lener, RCIA Coordinator, Immaculate Conception, Bronx Sr. Mary McCarthy, PBVM, RCIA Director, Sacred Heart, Newburgh Fr. Raymond Nobiletti, MM, Pastor, Transfiguration, Manhattan Fr. Francis Skelly, CSsR, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Bronx Msgr. Desmond Vella, former Officialis, Archdiocese of New York Archdiocesan Catechetical Office Sr. Joan Curtin, CND, Executive Director Oscar Cruz, Director, Catechumenate, Family Catechesis James Connell, Webmaster Nancy Doran, Director, Catechist Formation Maureen McKew, Director, Communications, New York Catholic Bible School Sr. Teresita Morse, RJM, Director, Formation of Religious Education Leaders Linda Sgammato, Director, Special Religious Education, Early Childhood Sr. Zelide Ceccagno, MSCS, Regional Director, S/C Westchester, Yonkers Jeannette Chishibanji, Regional Director, Bronx Sr. Mary Crucifix Pandullo, CSJB, Regional Director, Staten Island Margaret Hoblin, Regional Director, Putnam / N. Westchester / Rockland Linda Fitzsimmons, Regional Director, Dutchess / Ulster Sr. Catherine Ryan, OSF, Regional Director, Manhattan Sr. Kevin John Shields, OP, Regional Director, Orange / Sullivan Archdiocesan Office of Liturgy Rev. Matthew Ernest, Director CONTENTS Part I LITURGICAL AND CANONICAL STATUTES PAGES Chapter 1: Christian Initiation: Introduction 1. Who Should Use These Liturgical and Canonical Statutes …………………… 8 2. Initiation into the Christian Life: An Overview ………………………………… 8 3. Two Models of Christian Initiation ……………………………………………. 8 4. Unity and Order of the Sacraments ……………………………………………… 9 5. A Summary of How the Various Groups are Addressed by the Rite ………… 10 6. Who Belongs in a Process Other Than the Catechumenate …………………… 11 7. The Ritual Book …………………………………………………………………… 11 Chapter 2: General Pattern for Adults 8. Nomenclature ………………………………………………………………….. 13 9. The Period of Evangelization or Precatechumenate ……………………….. 13 10. The Rite of Acceptance (and Welcome) …………………………………….. 14 11. The Period of the Catechumenate …………………………………………... 15 12. The Rite of Sending ………………………………………………………….. 16 13. The Archdiocesan Rite of Election ………………………………………… 16 14. The Rite of Call to Continuing Conversion ………………………………….. 16 15. The Period of Purification and Enlightenment ……………………………… 17 16. The Sacraments of Initiation …………………………………………………. 17 17. The Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy ………………….. 18 18. Notes About Teenagers ……………………………………………………… 19 Chapter 3: Children of Catechetical Age 19. Who Are the Children? ………………………………………………………. 20 20. The Relationship of the Rite for Adults to the Rite for Children ……………. 21 21. Special Needs of Children ………………………………………………….. 21 22. Role of the Family …………………………………………………………….. 22 23. Role of Catholic Peers ……………………………………………………….. 22 24. The Shape of the Catechumenate for Children …………………………….. 22 25. Adapting the Rites for Children ………………………………………………. 23 Chapter 4: Ministries 26. The Community ……………………………………………………………….. 24 27. The Catechumenate Director/Coordinator ………………………………….. 24 28. Catechists …………………………………………………………………….. 24 29. Sponsors and Godparents ………………………………………………….. 25 30. Team Development …………………………………………………………… 25 Chapter 5: Special Cases 31. Use of the Short Form of Adult Initiation …………………………………….. 26 32. Christian Initiations of Persons in Danger of Death ………………………… 26 33. Persons with Disabilities ……………………………………………………… 26 34. Illiteracy ………………………………………………………………………… 26 35. Schools and Institutions ………………………………………………………. 27 Chapter 6: Particular Questions Section A: Marriages, Annulments, and Convalidations 36. Collaboration …………………………………………………………………. 28 37. Rules Concerning the Marriage of Catechumens …………………………… 28 38. Divorced and Remarried Persons Seeking the Sacraments of Initiation …… 28 39. Types of Annulment Cases …………………………………………………….. 29 40. Time Frame for Annulments ……………………………………………………. 30 41. Convalidation of Marriages ……………………………………………………… 30 Section B: Funeral of a Catechumen 42. Funeral of a Catechumen ……………………………………………………… 30 Section C: Non-Catholic Baptisms, Conditional Baptism & Non-Catholic Confirmations 43. Criteria for Determining a Valid Non-Catholic Baptism ………………………. 30 44. Conditional Baptism ……………………………………………………………… 30 45. Those Churches or Communions Whose Baptism Is Recognized as Valid by the Catholic Church ………………………………………………. 31 46. Those Churches or Communions That Either Do Not Baptize or Do Not Have a Baptism Recognized as Valid by the Catholic Church …… 31 47. Non-Catholic Confirmations …………………………………………………… 31 Section D: Eastern Non-Catholic Candidates and the Eastern Catholic Churches 48. Definitions ………………………………………………………………………… 32 49. Rules Concerning Eastern Non-Catholics Becoming Catholic ……………….. 32 50. Notes Concerning Eastern Catholics Who Wish to Transfer to the Latin Rite … 33 Section E: Record-Keeping 51. Initiation Questionnaire …………………………………………………………… 33 52. Register of Catechumens …………………………………………………………. 33 53. Book of the Elect ……………………………………………………………………. 34 Part II CATECHETICAL GUIDELINES Chapter 1: Catechetical Guidelines for the Period of the Precatechumenate 54. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………….. 35 55. Pastoral Formation for the Precatechumenate …………………………………… 36 56. Checklist for the Initiating Community ……………………………………………... 37 57. Discernment – How do we know when the goals of this period have been accomplished? ……………………………………………………. 37 Chapter 2: Catechetical Guidelines for the Period of the Catechumenate 58. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. 40 59. Pastoral Formation for the Catechumenate ……………………………………….. 42 60. Discernment – How do we know when the goals of the Catechumenate Period have been accomplished? ……………………………………………………. 52 Chapter 3: Catechetical Guidelines for the Period of Purification and Enlightenment 61. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 54 62. Synopsis of the Liturgical Rites and Themes for Spiritual Reflection ………….. 55 63. Sample Outline of a Spiritual Preparation for the Scrutiny Rite ……………… 55 64. Sample Outline of a Reflection After the Scrutiny Rite ………………………….. 56 Chapter 4: Catechetical Guidelines for the Period of Mystagogy 65. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 57 66. The Fifty Days of Easter …………………………………………………………….. 57 67. What Happens During this Period? …………………………………………………. 57 68. Catechesis During the Period of Mystagogy ………………………………………. 58 69. Suggested Approach for the Fifty Days of Easter ………………………………… 58 70. Extended Mystagogy ………………………………………………………………… 60 71. Suggested Approach for the Year of Extended Mystagogy ………………………. 60 Part III RESOURCES AND FORMS Chapter 1: Primary Sources 72. Primary Sources for Christian Initiation ……………………………………………. 62 Chapter 2: General Resources 73. Resources on Specific Topics ………………………………………………………. 62 74. Resources for General Overview of the RCIA ……………………………………… 63 Chapter 3: Catechetical Resources 75. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 63 76. Resources for Catechesis ……………………………………………………….. 63 Chapter 4: Liturgical Resources 77. Resources for Liturgy ……………………………………………………………. 64 Chapter 5: Form Provided by Archdiocese 78. Initiation Questionnaire ……………………………… ………………………… 66 PART ONE: LITURGICAL AND CANONICAL STATUTES CHAPTER ONE: CHRISTIAN INITIATION - AN INTRODUCTION 1. Who Should Use These Liturgical and Canonical Statutes These statutes have been written to provide catechumenate directors / coordinators and pastors in the Archdiocese of New York with information and guidance on practical questions about the Christian initiation of adults and children of catechetical age. These statutes are not written for catechumens, candidates, or inquirers. Other resources better serve their needs. Although the responsibility for the Christian initiation of adults belongs to all the baptized (RCIA no. 9), pastors and catechumenate directors / coordinators are charged with a special responsibility to see to it that the liturgical, catechetical and pastoral norms of the catechumenate and the Church laws governing it are carried out. In order to do this with pastoral sensitivity, directors / coordinators and pastors must understand the spirit of the rite, be fully conversant with its particular directives, and attend to the particular needs of those seeking initiation. No directives can substitute for experience and pastoral training. But it is our hope that these norms will articulate a standard of practice for the catechumenate in the Archdiocese of New York. In this way, our practical decisions in various circumstances may be based on a firm and common foundation. 2. Initiation into the Christian Life: An Overview Christian initiation is not only a matter of intellectual assent to the teachings of the Church, but is an incorporation into a living community of faith, represented by the local
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